Google ignores Kenya’s request to ban a gay rights rap video

The Kenya Films Classification Board has ordered a video geoblock from Google – This would make a song about LGBT equality inaccessible on the search engine within the country.

So far, Google have yet to acknowledge the order, which has reportedly infuriated Kenyan officials.

The video itself is a remix of Macklemore’s Same Love, with Kenyan rappers Art Attack replacing his lyrics with their own – while the music video features home-shot footage of a gay and a lesbian couple, shots from the TV series Empire and footage from riots and equality marches.

So far it has been watched over a hundred thousand times on YouTube since it’s release in February. The Kenyan authorities are reportedly in the process of trying to track down the members of the groups because they have allegedly violated local laws.

However, because the video is being hosted outside of Kenya, there is nothing the police or the board can actually do to restrict it, hence why they have appealed to Google.

“The video currently circulating on YouTube consists of lyrics that strongly advocate for gay rights in Kenya complete with graphic sexual scenes between people of the same gender as well as depiction and pornography” the board’s chief executive Ezekiel Mutua said in a statement.

“In our communication to Google we have requested the organisation to ensure that the video is not accessible in Kenya on both the Google search engine and also on the YouTube. We have also indicated that we expect expeditious action on this matter to avoid further violation of the law.”